Taurids 2019: Incredible meteor shower arrives tonight – When is the Taurid peak?

Astronomy enthusiasts are spoiled for choice at this time of year, with three separate meteor showers on display this month alone. The Orionids continue to appear following their peak in October, while the Leonid meteor shower will peak in the early morning of November 18. The Taurid meteor showers, dubbed the Halloween fireballs also started late last month and continue until December, but are anticipated to peak tonight.

“Peak” is a slightly inaccurate term because unlike some meteor showers, there will likely be no a significant increase in meteors this Tuesday night.

When it comes to the Taurids, is quality over quantity, with a mere five to ten meteors each hour during its peak compared to, for example, the Quadrantids, which has up to 110 meteors each hour.

However, this is made up for by the Taurid’s brilliance.

The Taurids are fireballs, meaning the shooting stars can shine brighter than Venus.

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In addition, the Taurids last longer then their cosmic competitors.

Although the Taruids travel at impressive speeds of 65mph (104kmh), this is actually relatively slow in comparison to other showers.

The American Meteor Society estimates meteors can enter the planet’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding 160,000mph (25,7495kmh).

This combined with larger explosions and larger size means they can streak across the sky for longer periods of time – frequently lasting up to a second.

It is during the double peak in early November the Taurids are at their best.

Those watching from the UK, the Taurids can be seen all through the night.

However, the best time of day for stargazing is expected to be between 1am and 2am GMT, when the radiant is at its highest.

The radiant (or point) that both streams of Taurids appear to travel from is the Taurus constellation, but the meteor show can be seen right across the night sky.

Upcoming 2019 meteor showers:

The Leonids come from the Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle and can been watched from the Leo constellation.

Peak Activity will occur between November 17 and 18 and people can expect to spot up to 10-20 meteors per hour.

The Geminids come from Comet 3200 Phaethon and can been watched from the Gemini constellation.

Peak activity will occur between December 13 and 14 and stargazers might catch 120 meteors every hour.

The Ursids originate from Comet 8P/Tuttle and will appear to arrive from the constellation Ursa Minor.

Then meteors will appear to peak around December 21 and 22.

Peak activity will see approximately 10 meteors shoot by every hour.

source: express.co.uk